Where Is Minnesota Spendings Its Money On Safe Routes To School? Minnesota Department Of Transportation Releases The Names Of The Counties That Received Grant Money

Biking and walking:  These are the most-common forms of transportation for children.  Recently, the State of Minnesota pledged to make the routes to school safer for those who utilize those means on a daily basis.

Four Minnesota communities will receive a share of $1 million in state funding to make safer routes for students to walk or bicycle to and from school, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The Safe Routes to School infrastructure grants will support schools and communities in building separate pedestrian and bicycle facilities, crossing enhancements and traffic measures that reduce speeds such as medians, crossing islands, speed humps and signage.

These communities were awarded funds to partner with schools to implement the projects:

• Grand Rapids, Itasca County - $261,000 for sidewalk improvements for Robert J. Elkington Middle School and Murphy Elementary School.
• Mankato, Blue Earth County - $319,000 for sidewalk and crossing improvements for Roosevelt Elementary School.
• Minneapolis, Hennepin County - $235,000 for crossing improvements for Lyndale Elementary School.
• Thief River Falls, Pennington County - $185,000 for multi-use trail improvements and traffic calming improvements that reduce speeds for Franklin Middle School and Challenger Elementary School.

For more details about the Safe Route to School Program, click here.